Corrib will be sold to Irish consumers at the international market rate

Pat Rabbitte has revealed a stunning lack of knowledge about Ireland’s oil and gas licensing terms. Speaking on Morning Ireland on Wednesday morning (June 1st), the new Minister for Energy and Natural Resources said the increased price of gas was an argument for proceeding with the Corrib gas project as soon as possible.

The State’s success rate in generating more oil and gas exploration activity in Irish waters will be outlined by Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte today at a conference in Dublin.

The Irish Offshore Operators’ Association says it is optimistic about the new licensing round initiated by the previous government for the entire Atlantic margin. Mr Rabbitte is due to outline the response from exploration interests at an Energy Ireland conference this morning.

Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte tells Owen McQuade about his energy priorities and plans to get people back to work and “wave goodbye to the ECB.”

Pat Rabbitte was not a reluctant Energy Minister, but was surprised to have been allocated the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources portfolio because that was the only department he hasn’t been involved in throughout his 22 years as a TD.

Two challenges to key consents signed by former minister for energy Pat Carey for construction of the final section of the Corrib gas pipeline scheme in Co Mayo are to be fast-tracked by the Commercial Court.

An Taisce and local residents Monica Muller and Peter Sweetman separately want to overturn the consents signed on the day of the general election. The actions may be heard in tandem with earlier challenges by the same parties to a decision of An Bord Pleanála in January.

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Blast from the Past

Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe’s first contact with a TD came about because he saw Clare Daly TD on ‘Tonight with Vincent Browne’ talking about policing of Corrib Gas protests, writes William Hederman

The repercussions for Garda whistleblowers Maurice McCabe and John Wilson will be familiar to others who have publicly embarrassed An Garda Síochána. They were clearly acting in the public interest, but their revelations brought the force into disrepute, and the two men suffered as a result. Revenge was exacted – not only by colleagues, but also by way of public denunciation by the Garda Commissioner (“disgusting”), the Minister for Justice (“not co-operating”) and by various other parties loyal to the force.